The Greyhounds got on the board first when Gianna Mangione put a ball past Alicia Montgomery into the upper right corner of the net eight minutes into the game. The Jays answered quickly when Zach got the rebound of her own shot that bounced off the crossbar and headed in into the back of the net. The goal marks Zach’s fourth of her Creighton career, and her first this season. It is also Creighton’s first goal of the 2010 regular season.

via Women’s Soccer Victorious Over Loyola Maryland 2-1 – GoCreighton.com.

In another hard fought battle, the Jays continued to fight but were not able to put a ball in the back of the net to even the score out. Creighton and Northern Illinois combined for just 16 fouls, a smaller number compared to the 42 last Friday.

via Women’s Soccer Comes up Short Against Northern Illinois, 1-0 – GoCreighton.com.

South Dakota State outshot Creighton, 15-11, including 3-2 in the two overtime sessions.

via Women’s Soccer Opens Season With Scoreless Draw Against Jackrabbits – GoCreighton.com.

Neumann, who was a first team all-MVC pick and the league’s freshman of the year, finished the 2009 season second in The Valley in scoring, and as top scorer on the team with 20 points (7g/6a). She is the first NSCAA All-Region selection for the Bluejays since 2005 when current assistant coach Ivonne Valentin earned a third team selection.

Neumann’s fine season was highlighted by one of the best individual efforts in Creighton women’s soccer history. Neumann posted a natural hat trick and totaled eight points (3g/2a) in an 8-0 win over South Dakota on Aug. 28. The three goals tied for fourth and eight points tied for third on Creighton single game charts.

The Omaha native was also just the fifth freshman in Creighton history to lead the team in scoring, as Marcy Gans was the last to do so in 2005.

via Brittney Neumann Earns Spot on NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region Team – GoCreighton.com.

Illinois State advances to the NCAA Division I tournament, which will begin on campus sites next Friday.

Carlson gave the Redbirds the lead with her league-best 11th goal of the season. Creighton’s clear attempt near its own goal was blocked by Carlson. She then beat two Creighton defenders to the middle of the box, and beat a diving Alicia Montgomery just inside the right post for the only goal of the match.

Illinois State’s last title came in 2002, when they defeated Creighton 1-0 in overtime. The Redbirds will try to end the Valley’s drought in the NCAA Tournament, as MVC teams are 0-11-0 all-time.

Montgomery made five saves for Creighton, as the Jays defense finished the season allowing the fewest goals (13) of any CU squad. That mark also set an MVC record.

Sasha Reiber stopped one Creighton shot, but survived two scares in the first half, en route to her ninth win of the season.

Brittney Neumann had the two best opportunities for Creighton, catching Reiber out of the net both times. Her first shot bounced off the right post in the 15th minute, and an odd angle shot in the 43rd minute landed on top of the net.

Neumann and Andrea Zuniga combined for six of the seven Creighton shots, with three apiece.

The Redbirds and Jays’ last four meetings in the Valley tournament have come in the championship matches. Creighton won the title in 2007 and 2002, while Illinois State added this year’s title to its only other triumph in 2003.

Creighton had three players named to the MVC All-Tournament Team. Neumann, Beth Fyles and Laura Nasseri all earned spots on the team. The Redbirds led the way with four players, as Carlson was named tournament MVP.

Illinois State’s record improved to 12-6-1 while the Jays ended the season 13-6-2. The Redbirds will find out Monday who their opponent will be in next weekend’s first round.

NOTES: This year marked the sixth tournament without a game decided by shootout. The league has gone without a game decided by penalty kicks five times before this year. Those years were 2006, 2001, 2000, 1998 and 1996 … Creighton ends the decade with the most Valley tournament championships with four … Illinois State tied for second with Evansville with two titles … The announced crowd of 503 is the third highest for an MVC Championship game, trailing 2005 (593) and 1999 (612) crowds … Alicia Montgomery ends the year with a 0.58 goals against average; the third lowest mark in CU history and second in MVC history … The Jays did not allow more than two goals in any match this season, marking the first time in program history that has been%

via Women’s Soccer Falls in MVC Title Match, 1-0 – GoCreighton.com.

Third-seeded Creighton (13-5-2) will play top-seeded Illinois State (11-6-1) in Sunday’s 1 pm championship match at Michael G. Morrison, S.J., Stadium in Omaha. The Redbirds advanced thanks to a 1-0 victory over fourth-seeded Drake, getting a goal from Jessica Carlson with 30 minutes left in the match.

The Bluejay game-winner came in the 99th minute. After a defensive stand, CU’s Erin Gunther took possession over in the back-third and pushed it up-field. She lifted a long pass down the right wing to Brittney Neumann. Neumann would then cross the ball to Nasseri, who buried her second score of the season past MSU’s all-Valley keeper Jessica Teahan for her first game-winning score as a Bluejay.

“It was a tale of halves,” said CU head coach Bruce Erickson. “We were a lot better the first half and it was their half in the second. We weren’t our sharpest and didn’t close like we wanted to, but in overtime we wanted to come out and apply pressure right away. That last goal sequence was about as good as we’ve had all year. It was a great pass from Gunther to Neumann and then Laura made a great run on the ball.”

Creighton would dent the scoreboard first, scoring in the 17th minute on a goal by sophomore Beth Fyles. Mary Zapapas set up the play before her through ball helped Fyles beat Teahan to the lower left corner. It was Fyles’ fifth score of the season and the MVC-best sixth helper of the year from Zapapas.

Missouri State (9-6-3) knotted the game with 7:08 remaining in regulation on a play set up by Samantha Aguilar. Aguilar launched a shot from 30 yards out that rebounded off the crossbar and bounced right to Jenna Dobkins. With CU keeper Alicia Montgomery still landing from her leap, Dobkins one-timed an easy volley into a wide open net for her fourth score of the fall. The senior’s score marked Missouri State’s first goal in Omaha against Creighton since Oct. 8, 2000, a span of 636:11 covering six-plus games.

Dobkins nearly put in the game winner with 2:05 left in the second half. She was fed a long pass into the box and was able to out-leap Montgomery and get her head on the ball in a jarring collision, only to see the ball trickle just wide as both players were sent to the turf.

The title match will be shown live at 1 p.m. on Fox Sports Midwest in the state of Illinois, Fox Sports Indiana, Fox College Sports, Comcast SportsNet Chicago and Metro Sports – the league’s production company which is based in Kansas City, Mo. The match will also be seen live on alternate cabl

via Nasseri Buries Game-Winner As Women’s Soccer Tops MSU in OT, 2-1 – GoCreighton.com.

A total of six Bluejays were honored by the league, as Kelly Connolly and Emily Orbell joined Neumann on the first team. Alicia Montgomery was the second team goalkeeper and Beth Fyles and Claire Zach were honorable mentions.

The Jays have now had two of the last three freshman of the year award winners, as Orbell was honored in 2007. The other Creighton FOY winner was Regina Moench in 2001.

Neumann, a forward, has played in all 19 matches and leads CU in points with 19 (7g/5a). She is in the top three of the MVC in numerous offensive categories, including second in points, third in goals and tied for first in assists, while also leading all MVC newcomers in scoring.

Orbell’s first team selection is her third All-MVC honor after two, second team selections in 2007 and 2008. Orbell has played in 17 of 19 matches and is second on the team in goals (6) and points (17). She is the sixth Bluejay to earn three or more first or second team All-MVC awards.

Connolly was the second-leading scorer in the league among defenders. She currently has four goals, including two game-winners and one game-tying goal, and is one of four Jays to start every match.

Montgomery helped etch this year’s team in the Creighton record books, as it set records for shutouts and goals against average with 11 and a 0.56 mark respectively. The Jays have also yet to allow more than two goals in a match, which would be a program first if that holds up.

Fyles and Zach’s honorable mention come on the heels of career years for both players. Zach, a junior, nearly doubled her career point total this year with five (2g/1a). Fyles, a sophomore, has 11 points on four goals and three assists, after recording three points (0g/3a) as a freshman.

Samantha Aguilar of Missouri State was named Player of the Year, as she is currently tied for 10th in the league in scoring with 11 points (5g/1a) after helping MSU to its highest finish in league history.

Danielle Mutters of Illinois State repeated as Defensive Player of the Year, as she currently has nine points (3g/3a) on the campaign. Mutters is the third player in league history to win the league’s top defensive award in consecutive seasons, joining Evansville’s Terra May (1996-97) and Missouri State’s Sarah Guenther (2003-04)

Illinois State and Missouri State led the selections with six apiece to either the first or second teams. Drake had three, Evansville and UNI had two and Indiana State had one.

Illinois State won the league’s Fair Play aw

via Neumann Named Women’s Soccer Freshman of the Year; Six Jays Honored – GoCreighton.com.

Complete All MVC Team

The freshman from Omaha had three points on the week, assisting on the Jays’ fourth goal at Evansville, and netting the game-winner in Sunday’s MVC Tournament quarterfinal match, also against Evansville, at Morrison Stadium.

It was Neumann’s second such honor of the season, as she earned her first player of the week nod on Aug. 31.

Neumann also leads the team in scoring with 19 points (7g/5a) and is trying to become the first freshman in Creighton women’s soccer history to lead the team in points.

The Jays next match will be on Friday in the semifinals of the MVC Tournament. The Jays are slated to take on Missouri State at 6:00 p.m. at Morrison Stadium.

via Neumann Takes Second Women’s Soccer Player of the Week Award – GoCreighton.com.

The shutout was Creighton’s 11th on the season, good for a new program record, eclipsing the 19-year old mark of 10 set in 1990.

“The first 15 minutes of each half were the difference,” said head coach Bruce Erickson. “I felt we dictated action all afternoon, and were unfortunate not to get a goal in the first half,” Erickson added.

Creighton scored less than a minute into the second half on a corner kick for the match’s lone goal.

Erin Gunther was on the ball from the right corner, putting it to the top of the goal area. Her ball was played by Claire Zach, whose header was blocked, but trickled to Neumann on the near post. She finished just underneath the crossbar for the game-winner.

The assist was Gunther’s eighth on the season and marks the fourth straight match she has recorded a point.

Creighton controlled the play for much of the game, outshooting Evansville 21-4 without allowing a shot on goal. The Jays also held a large advantage in corner kicks, setting a season-high with a 12-1 margin.

Alicia Montgomery recorded her eighth shutout, and 11th victory of the year without having to make a save. Chaviel Harrison stopped seven Creighton shots in falling to 1-8-0 on the year.

The win advances the Bluejays to Friday’s MVC Tournament semifinals, where they will take on second-seeded Missouri State at Morrison Stadium.

“Missouri State is a difficult team to play and break down,” said Erickson of Friday’s opponent. “We played well [in the previous game with Missouri State] and had a lot of opportunities, but it will certainly be a tough match,” he added.

Friday’s first match will feature top-seed Illinois State taking on the winner of Drake and Indiana State at 3:30. Creighton and Missouri State will kick-off at 6:00 pm at Morrison Stadium

NOTES: Gunther’s scoring streak has reached four matches (1g/3a), and CU’s record improved to 4-0-1 this season when she records a point … The Jays are now 8-0-1 in opening-round, MVC Tournament matches … The win was CU’s 12th on the season, tying Bruce Erickson’s season high at Creighton … Evansville is the only team in the MVC to defeat Creighton in the Valley Tournament in a non-penalty kick, tie-breaking setting … Creighton has never defeated Missouri State twice in one season.

via Neumann’s Goal Lifts Women’s Soccer Past Evansville in MVC Quarterfinals, 1-0 – GoCreighton.com.

The win secured a home match for CU in the first round of the MVC Tournament on Sunday. The Jays, seeded third, will face Evansville for the second consecutive match, as the Purple Aces finished the regular season as the league’s sixth-place team.

“I was very pleased with the second half,” said head coach Bruce Erickson. “We started to play our game and got stronger as the game wore on. Every player made an impact on the game tonight,” he added.

With the Bluejays trailing 1-0, two-goals 44 seconds apart gave the Jays all the scoring they would need. Eden Hingwing started the rally in the 61st minute with her second goal of the year after a scramble following a corner kick

Fyles scored the game-winner would then score the game-winner at 61:26 of the match. Fyles gained control after Evansville’s kick-off and broke thorough the defense, beating EU keeper Chaviel Harrison for the 2-1 lead.

The two goals were Fyles’ first points in eight matches, as she now has four goals and 11 points on the season.

Creighton continued the rally with Erin Gunther’s second goal of the season. Gunther put a free kick on goal, beating Harrison high and just under the crossbar from 26 yards out for a two-goal Bluejay lead.

The Jays capped the scoring with Fyles’ second goal. Fyles took a cross from the foot of Brittney Neumann and scored on the far post for the fourth and final goal.

Evansville’s only goal came in the 29th minute courtesy of Abby Guerra. Guerra scored her second goal of the season from 10 yards out on the right post following a throw-in from Kaitlin Oldfield. Katelyn Smith also assisted on the play to tie for the Evansville point lead.

Alicia Montgomery saved three shots to pick up her 10th win of the season. Harrison saved five shots to fall to 1-7-0 on the year.

After a near-even first half, Creighton dominated the shot column in the second half with an 8-1 advantage.

Sunday’s match between the Bluejays and Purple Aces will kick-off at 1:00 p.m. Drake will host Indiana State in the other first round match.

via Fyles Pair Leads Creighton to 4-1 Win at Evansville – GoCreighton.com.